EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JHYBO:
PEOPLE USED TO SAY THAT I COULD NEVER MAKE IT IN LIFE.
If you say have not heard of Jhybo then its either you are living in the past or you don't listen to Nigerian music , Jhybo is one of the new dudes that caught the attention of so many hip-hop lovers this year with massive tunes like 'E jo le fe ro' ft Cynthia Morgan and so many other brilliant tracks that relieved massive airplay on the radio and t.v stations across the nation especially in Lagos .He raps in his native language (Yoruba ) and is signed to Bay productions, Jhybo is one of those we think might take over the game absolutely a few years time. We caught up with Jhybo a few days back and had a pretty nice chat with him as he revealed his experiences in life and the journey in the music game so far. Anyways ,its time for me to go now, Enjoy the full interview below .
So Jhybo can you tell us about yourself?
My real names are JIBOLA TORIOLA, am a rapper, I produce songs too, I do music in general.
When and how did your discover your talent? Well, I am the first born so I started my journey early and in the family where I grew up, you must go to church definitely and also back then I couldn’t help becoming a member of the choir. So I just started doing stuff even though nobody taught me how to do them. I also learnt how to play drums and I used to play for my church. I also discovered that I could rap and do some other nice stuff. I remember I created my first song when I was just ten years of age, at that time, I was just entering secondary school and since then I’ve just been improving my skills and now you can see the music I do is matured and everything I do, I do it in a matured way.
Jhybo, we know that even before the late Dagrin became a popular yoruba rapper alot of people had already been rapping in yoruba but after he died you find out that when any new yoruba rapper comes up, people start saying 'he is trying to copy the late Dagrin' what do you have to say about that ? Well, I don’t blame them for saying that. To be honest Dagrin's hard work has helped to change the face of Yoruba music and he made Yoruba rap more interesting and now you can see that Yoruba rappers are getting attention ever since Dagrin came along. Now let me chip this in, the first album Dagrin ever did, nobody really knew or paid attention to him then, but when he puts so much more energy.
So what makes you unique ?
Well every rapper has his/her choice of words and arrangement, so I have my own. My lyrics are deep, I can go in many ways, I’m very flexible. I don’t just do hardcore, I could decide to be hardcore today and tomorrow I’m different. Dagrin is more of hardcore stuff. So whenever you hear me you can easily recognize me because the pattern of my voice.
I must confess that your song 'e jo le fe ro' is the definition of street credibility, its been played at every single corner of the streets and any where it's being played , you see people around smiling, nodding their heads and singing along . so tell us ,what tell us what inspired you to write that song?
Well, I would like to take my answer from what you just said now, i.e. street credibility. *Speaks Nigerian Pidgin English* I no be buti at all, I be pako. I grew up in Lagos Island and the bible said the word is sharper than the sowrd. People can use their mouth to run somebody down, they can kill somebody instantly with word of mouth. It has happened to me when I was in secondary school, I was very adventurous and I used to like hanging all around my neighborhood things and people used to run me down and say thing like *speaking Yoruba* Omo yen! bo shey ma wa ni yen , He can never make it. So, that day and Cynthia Morgan who has been my friend for a long was in the studio and some body just called me and said “why can’t you guys just work on a song together” and I said ok lets just do something quickly because I was about travelling for my NYSC then. So I quickly made the beat and something just came to my mind and I just started remembering all my experiences with people and then i came up with the chorus * sings* dem don dey run thier mouth *2 , den wa kill jhybo dem dey run their mouth.
So when you are in the club or you're listening to the radio and your song comes on how do you feel?
I feel great, its very wonderful because back in those days you only had your demo, you will play it to yourself and your family but now people play it and they are happy, so it encourages me to write more, now people show me love, I produce myself, I have ideas, I do songs and people like it, they salute me anywhere I go, people encourage me day and night. So anything you are doing just keep on doing it and one day people would notice you.My journey has not been smooth so far, although, i am young but I had a very early start in life and that journey has not been smooth at all but, I thank God for where I am today and I give God the glory for where am going. I’m still expecting more fans and I expect my fan base to multiply.
So tell me how many times did you perform for yourselves, in front of your mirror before you got to the mainstream?
(Laughs) if I start talking about that today, we may not end this interview. But I have performed so many times, for myself, my church, my secondary school, so many performances before I got to where I am today.Back then I used to break dance, but later *speaks pidgin* wen we start to dey turn big boy, we come dey form say, when girl go dey look us for club?, me I go come dey break dance (laughs) so on several occasions since I started my music and when I was ten years I have been on different stages performing. Back then I would be rehearsing on top other peoples’ songs and I would be feeling myself, so its been a long journey for me.
So your write your songs yourself?
Yeah, i do. I write all my songs and not only rap, I do rnb because atimes I sing , I just do so many stuffs.
Do you write songs to pass a message across?
Definitely, if you listen to my songs very well, you should know I am not a flux rapper, mostly I say things, I talk, I go deep, that's what I grew up with. I do this because I want all my songs to be older than me, even if I don’t stay long on this earth my songs would still remain for a very long time, even the next generation would still be playing it.Yeah! And flux rap can never do that. I want to pass a message. That’s why we still listen to the likes of Sunny Ade, Fela and the rest and imagine we are still celebrating Fela every year. I even performed at Felebration 2011.
Now tell me how you intend to pass a message across to your listeners who do not understand yoruba ?
Concerning that all my songs can never be 100% Yoruba, in a song, my chorus could be English, my bridge may be something else. More so, in the video, we do more of translation than any other thing so that people who do not understand Yoruba can watch and understand what I am saying. Music is universal, Awilo rained in Nigeria for so many years and none of us understood what he was saying and we were bumping our heads to it, some can even go on extra mile to ask someone who understands what I’m saying to interpret to them. My second album might contain more of English but presently all my songs have Yoruba in them but not 100%, so that my listeners have something to hold on to.
So tell us about your album, what should we be expecting ?
Nothing but originality, more energy, less fluxing. I am going to give you guys confirmed songs, nice melodies.
What songs should we watch out for?
You need to watch out for the song I did with Sound sultan titled push them down. It passes a message to those up there to give the young talents a chance to move forward. This industry should not be like a chieftainship title or politics. Your hard work should be able to take you somewhere, not radio station and dj’s telling you they can’t play your songs. It’s all about telling those artistes up there to give a chance to the younger ones to also make it up there.
Tell us about your female fans ,do they distract you ?
Apart from ladies, can anything distract you from doing what you want? Girls are the salt of the game, without them the entire world is not going to be interesting. It all depends on how you can handle them and utilize them to get better results because there is a way you can utilize your female fans to help you move ahead life. I like girls, I keep them a friends, they give me advice and stuff.
What are the changes you want to see in the music industry?
The change I want to see is when the sweat of recording artiste to be equal to the size of their pocket. If you work hard then you should also have a good reward for doing so. Now because of piracy, it is not like that because after your hard work, paying this one and that one for recording or promotion, you find out that one guy at one corner is just making all the gain and you the artiste is loosing.yes, i'm talking about piracy , I know it can never be 100 percent
Ok, tell us how we can identify pirated c.ds because 9ja music lovers out there don’t know how to differentiate original from pirated ones?
Lets be honest when you see a pirated c.d you will definitely know because of the low quality of the printing and stuff.But if you really love Nigerian music then please don’t just go to any small corner where they sell c.ds to buy. Please go to a c.d shop you are really sure off , that way you can be sure that you are buying original c.d’s and rewarding the artiste for their hard work.
Word to your fans and other upcoming artiste out there?
Well, my album is not yet out so I’m still upcoming too. So know best just do it. Give praises to God and someday somebody will spot you and introduce you to somebody who will help you. That’s how it was for me from one person to another till it eventually get there I am today. Improve more on your skills, write as many songs as you can, work hard, learn how to be bigger than your mentor because it helps. And lastly, *speaks pidgin* no carry bomb because na only me wan blow! (laughs)
Interviewed by Timi blaze
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Dropout to Corporate Sell-out - The Steve Harris Exclusive!
This month's feature is an exclusive interview with Steve Harris, a Management Consultant who has recently launched a new book that tells the story of his journey from being a Drop-out to a sought-after Corporate Consultant. Its an inspiring and interesting book as revealed in the Sneak Preview that held me spell-bound till I read the last dot.
I'm proud to present you this close-up interview on Steve's new book.
Being a Management Consultant, how has that been for you so far?
It’s been an exciting journey, filled with great opportunities to identify potential problems and then turn them around for the better. I wouldn’t be in business if there weren’t any problems and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I particularly fell in love with the cover page of your new book, tell us about it.
• Well the concept for my book, “From College Dropout To Corporate Sellout” puts into perspective, the 2 parts of my personality; one’s the guy who dropped out of college twice and didn’t believe in himself because very few people did and the Corporate Sellout is the guy who’s got it all together, pretty much a corporate success.
I’d never have been this guy without the ‘dropout’ in me. He motivates me to prove to myself and the world that I’m not the person they mistook me for. There’s a ‘sellout’ in every dropout’. Go get the book and get the full details.
What can you recall as your highlights and major challenges in the course of writing the book.
• I actually didn’t start out with the intention of writing this book. I had another book that I was writing, and I got a case of ‘writer’s block’, so my editor (‘Seun Salami) advised me to write my biography. I was a little skeptical to begin with, because I thought I needed to be someone really noteworthy to write my biography and also I’d be thought to be a little arrogant to believe that people would wanna read my story, but I acquiesced and here it is. I started writing in February 2011 and it was finished in April 2011.
I guess the major highlights would be to know for a certainty that so many people would be blessed and inspired to overcome their own perceived limitations after reading this book.
My second highlight was when a friend of mine read the manuscript and was so blown away that she wrote me a cheque for a =N=100, 000 to ensure that I got it published. That was humbling.
And most importantly, was reading the foreword of one of my most special mentors, Mr. Tonye Cole (MD, Sahara Energy). It literally brought tears to my eyes.
My first encounter with you was at a conference in 2007 where you spoke a bit on your story alongside Fela Durotoye; how would you rate FD's impact on you?
• I must say that next to Jesus Christ and my parents, FD’s been the most important influence in my life. He took a chance on a college drop-out and boosted my confidence, taught me so much and today, here I am! He’s a truly great leader.
Okay, drifting a bit from the book, who would you regard as the most influential person in your life?
• Fela Durotoye, Paul Adefarasin and Tonye Cole.
Fela Durotoye
Paul Adefarasin
Tonye Cole.
College Drop-out to Corporate Sell-out; tell us a bit about the Corporate Sell-out aspect.
It's just how I've turned my perceived disabilities into great opportunities. Would you believe i get paid to tell people how i dropped out of school and how today, I'm living the life of my dreams? That's weird!
What's your typical work-day like?
* Saying my Prayers, Speaking to clients, having meetings, listening to soothing music and coming up with products.
I mean...it must be hectic for a celebrity like you, how do you cool-off?
* I wouldn't consider myself a celebrity, I still walk on the street and nobody knows me, I can still buy Agege bread or pull over and buy corn for my wife... (laughs) and escape unnoticed.
Well, I love watching movies (really enjoyed Fast Five), listening to music and just being with my family, watching cartoons with my chic. I don't party; I like to keep it simple.
A lot of Nigerian youths are out there with crazy ideas but lack the necessary support, how possible is it to make an impact with so little at their disposal?
* Dream Big, Start small, Grow fast! And get a mentor!!!
Who's your business icon and why?
* Right now, it would be Tony Robbins.
He's proliferated his products and conferences around the world and has been an adviser to Presidents, Fortune 500 CEO's and still connects to the 'Regular Joe and soccer mom" out there. That's my dream.
Where and when can we purchase your books?
* Well, from September, they should be in any good bookstore, so keep your eyes open!
In a piece, what would you like to tell our youths out there?
It's not what you don't have that limits you; it's what you have but don't know how to use!
Identify your gifts and spend your life being the best at what you're naturally good at!.
Revealed!...Exclusive Interview with Toyin Kolawole (CEO, Truebranches.com)
Gorgeous Toyin Kolawole (CEO, Truebranches.com)
Toyin Kolawole is the founder and CEO of True Branches, Nigeria’s fastest growing E-Commerce and M-Commerce Intermediary buying Service. She obtained her MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in 2006 where she was awarded the FC Austin scholarship; a prestigious lifetime status awarded annually to 10 select candidates with excellent academic achievement and exceptional leadership qualities. While at Kellogg, Toyin majored in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Management and strategy, Marketing, and Analytical Consulting
Under Toyin’s management, True Branches has grown tremendously as a leading service dedicated to fostering export/import between the United States and Nigeria. With True Branches innovative technology focus, Nigerian Exporters and industries now have unrestricted access to the global market. After her MBA, Toyin joined Bain and Company, one of three foremost global management and strategy consulting firms in the world. At Bain, Toyin consulted for several fortune 500 companies, offering and implementing highly innovative and practical solutions to complex management problems. Prior to her business education at Kellogg, Toyin worked as a private equity analyst with SME Manager Limited, an African Capital Alliance fund focused on business growth and development in Nigeria. She obtained her bachelor’s in Management and Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. She is also a Nigerian chartered accountant. She is married with two sons and loves to go hiking.
Insight into your products and services for non-techies
Truebranches.com is really about technology and customer service. We like to think of ourselves as a Naija version of Amazon. We enable site users shop online in the US and Africa. We provide real-time information and access to the best deals available. What we set out to do was provide a solution to tackle the unwillingness and/or inability of US sellers to process, accept payments for, and ship orders originating from Nigeria. True Branches makes it easy to buy stuff.
Despite the growth of mobile and Telecoms industry, the mobile platform still has a low market penetration in Nigeria, how have you coped with this?
A good proportion of our site users access websites from work or home but over the last 3 years, we have seen a steady increase in mobile internet use. It’s exciting to see more Nigerians increasingly use their mobile devices for other things besides talk.
So how have we coped? I think the question is how have we planned? To view current mobile internet penetration as a problem rather than opportunity is a mistake. The scenario is somewhat similar to cell phone penetration in Nigeria pre- and post-GSM. There are several enablers in this space – CBN, M-Commerce licensees, GSM operators, payment processors and content providers. Truebranches recognizes the potential opportunities within this space and is poised to be a leading content provider.
How come about the name, True Branches, as it may bring to mind a Horticultural Organization?
(Laughs)…While at Kellogg, it was disheartening to see case studies, news media and TV shows portray Nigerian 419 scammers as though that’s what we were all about. Some stores like JC Penny will not grant browsing access to West African internet users. The idea behind True Branches as a name is – if you view Nigeria as one huge strong and vibrant tree, sort of like the one in Psalm 1… (Laughs)…well, we view the people we serve as the true Branches, the true ambassadors of Nigeria.
How did it feel starting your own company and what motivated it?
It felt great, scary, exhilarating at the same time but one constant was the conviction in my heart that I was fulfilling destiny and therefore on the right path. Regarding my motivation – it’s The Lord Jesus. My husband, my kids have also been a primary source of motivation. Even as a senior executive, my husband would roll up his sleeves and help me pack boxes at the beginning when True Branches had just one staff – Me
Half a decade from now, where do you see True Branches?
Where God takes us, everyday he extends our vision, my role as CEO is just to run with it. Our primary focus is to impact lives, create opportunities, and showcase the true branches within Nigeria, within Africa, to the world via our technology platforms. We have just begun.
Moving away from these Tech things (laughs), tell us about your growing-up days.
I grew up in a mid-sized family, like most families, we definitely had our years of hardship which I think instilled some level of tenacity in all of us. My parents and siblings are devoted Christians and we’ve all lived a life of faith and trust that God always has a plan and its always perfect and timely.
Work-Life Balance, how do you manage these?
It’s always work-in-progress. Just like most mums out there, I always have to prioritize; my sons come first so whenever there’s a conflict in schedule or roles everything else becomes secondary. I believe people find time to do the things that they value.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
(Laughs) – Not telling.
Hmm…Okay. When I read your profile, I spent another half of the time staring at the beauty of God's creation, please tell our women out there how you manage to look great, even after 2 kids.
Thanks, you’re sweet! I do the usual stuff, try to eat healthy and work out several times a week.
One quote that has greatly influenced your persona
“I am not deterred by the fear of failure but motivated by the possibility of success”
Finally a word to our women and youths out there
There’s no such thing as an ordinary person, there’s just ordinary choices. God has thoughts and plans for everyone who follows him and sometimes your logic, your reasoning, your plans, your thoughts requires faith. A person who’s afraid to fail is by default afraid to succeed.
Thanks so much for your time on 'mikesfrequency' and I look forward to the audio interview. God bless!
Thanks
Also available is the AUDIO INTERVIEW...
PEOPLE USED TO SAY THAT I COULD NEVER MAKE IT IN LIFE.
So Jhybo can you tell us about yourself?
My real names are JIBOLA TORIOLA, am a rapper, I produce songs too, I do music in general.
When and how did your discover your talent? Well, I am the first born so I started my journey early and in the family where I grew up, you must go to church definitely and also back then I couldn’t help becoming a member of the choir. So I just started doing stuff even though nobody taught me how to do them. I also learnt how to play drums and I used to play for my church. I also discovered that I could rap and do some other nice stuff. I remember I created my first song when I was just ten years of age, at that time, I was just entering secondary school and since then I’ve just been improving my skills and now you can see the music I do is matured and everything I do, I do it in a matured way.
Jhybo, we know that even before the late Dagrin became a popular yoruba rapper alot of people had already been rapping in yoruba but after he died you find out that when any new yoruba rapper comes up, people start saying 'he is trying to copy the late Dagrin' what do you have to say about that ? Well, I don’t blame them for saying that. To be honest Dagrin's hard work has helped to change the face of Yoruba music and he made Yoruba rap more interesting and now you can see that Yoruba rappers are getting attention ever since Dagrin came along. Now let me chip this in, the first album Dagrin ever did, nobody really knew or paid attention to him then, but when he puts so much more energy.
So what makes you unique ?
Well every rapper has his/her choice of words and arrangement, so I have my own. My lyrics are deep, I can go in many ways, I’m very flexible. I don’t just do hardcore, I could decide to be hardcore today and tomorrow I’m different. Dagrin is more of hardcore stuff. So whenever you hear me you can easily recognize me because the pattern of my voice.
Well, I would like to take my answer from what you just said now, i.e. street credibility. *Speaks Nigerian Pidgin English* I no be buti at all, I be pako. I grew up in Lagos Island and the bible said the word is sharper than the sowrd. People can use their mouth to run somebody down, they can kill somebody instantly with word of mouth. It has happened to me when I was in secondary school, I was very adventurous and I used to like hanging all around my neighborhood things and people used to run me down and say thing like *speaking Yoruba* Omo yen! bo shey ma wa ni yen , He can never make it. So, that day and Cynthia Morgan who has been my friend for a long was in the studio and some body just called me and said “why can’t you guys just work on a song together” and I said ok lets just do something quickly because I was about travelling for my NYSC then. So I quickly made the beat and something just came to my mind and I just started remembering all my experiences with people and then i came up with the chorus * sings* dem don dey run thier mouth *2 , den wa kill jhybo dem dey run their mouth.
So when you are in the club or you're listening to the radio and your song comes on how do you feel?
I feel great, its very wonderful because back in those days you only had your demo, you will play it to yourself and your family but now people play it and they are happy, so it encourages me to write more, now people show me love, I produce myself, I have ideas, I do songs and people like it, they salute me anywhere I go, people encourage me day and night. So anything you are doing just keep on doing it and one day people would notice you.My journey has not been smooth so far, although, i am young but I had a very early start in life and that journey has not been smooth at all but, I thank God for where I am today and I give God the glory for where am going. I’m still expecting more fans and I expect my fan base to multiply.
So tell me how many times did you perform for yourselves, in front of your mirror before you got to the mainstream?
(Laughs) if I start talking about that today, we may not end this interview. But I have performed so many times, for myself, my church, my secondary school, so many performances before I got to where I am today.Back then I used to break dance, but later *speaks pidgin* wen we start to dey turn big boy, we come dey form say, when girl go dey look us for club?, me I go come dey break dance (laughs) so on several occasions since I started my music and when I was ten years I have been on different stages performing. Back then I would be rehearsing on top other peoples’ songs and I would be feeling myself, so its been a long journey for me.
Yeah, i do. I write all my songs and not only rap, I do rnb because atimes I sing , I just do so many stuffs.
Do you write songs to pass a message across?
Definitely, if you listen to my songs very well, you should know I am not a flux rapper, mostly I say things, I talk, I go deep, that's what I grew up with. I do this because I want all my songs to be older than me, even if I don’t stay long on this earth my songs would still remain for a very long time, even the next generation would still be playing it.Yeah! And flux rap can never do that. I want to pass a message. That’s why we still listen to the likes of Sunny Ade, Fela and the rest and imagine we are still celebrating Fela every year. I even performed at Felebration 2011.
Concerning that all my songs can never be 100% Yoruba, in a song, my chorus could be English, my bridge may be something else. More so, in the video, we do more of translation than any other thing so that people who do not understand Yoruba can watch and understand what I am saying. Music is universal, Awilo rained in Nigeria for so many years and none of us understood what he was saying and we were bumping our heads to it, some can even go on extra mile to ask someone who understands what I’m saying to interpret to them. My second album might contain more of English but presently all my songs have Yoruba in them but not 100%, so that my listeners have something to hold on to.
So tell us about your album, what should we be expecting ?
Nothing but originality, more energy, less fluxing. I am going to give you guys confirmed songs, nice melodies.
What songs should we watch out for?
You need to watch out for the song I did with Sound sultan titled push them down. It passes a message to those up there to give the young talents a chance to move forward. This industry should not be like a chieftainship title or politics. Your hard work should be able to take you somewhere, not radio station and dj’s telling you they can’t play your songs. It’s all about telling those artistes up there to give a chance to the younger ones to also make it up there.
Apart from ladies, can anything distract you from doing what you want? Girls are the salt of the game, without them the entire world is not going to be interesting. It all depends on how you can handle them and utilize them to get better results because there is a way you can utilize your female fans to help you move ahead life. I like girls, I keep them a friends, they give me advice and stuff.
What are the changes you want to see in the music industry?
The change I want to see is when the sweat of recording artiste to be equal to the size of their pocket. If you work hard then you should also have a good reward for doing so. Now because of piracy, it is not like that because after your hard work, paying this one and that one for recording or promotion, you find out that one guy at one corner is just making all the gain and you the artiste is loosing.yes, i'm talking about piracy , I know it can never be 100 percent
Ok, tell us how we can identify pirated c.ds because 9ja music lovers out there don’t know how to differentiate original from pirated ones?
Lets be honest when you see a pirated c.d you will definitely know because of the low quality of the printing and stuff.But if you really love Nigerian music then please don’t just go to any small corner where they sell c.ds to buy. Please go to a c.d shop you are really sure off , that way you can be sure that you are buying original c.d’s and rewarding the artiste for their hard work.
Well, my album is not yet out so I’m still upcoming too. So know best just do it. Give praises to God and someday somebody will spot you and introduce you to somebody who will help you. That’s how it was for me from one person to another till it eventually get there I am today. Improve more on your skills, write as many songs as you can, work hard, learn how to be bigger than your mentor because it helps. And lastly, *speaks pidgin* no carry bomb because na only me wan blow! (laughs)
Interviewed by Timi blaze
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
College Dropout to Corporate Sell-out - The Steve Harris Exclusive!
This month's feature is an exclusive interview with Steve Harris, a Management Consultant who has recently launched a new book that tells the story of his journey from being a Drop-out to a sought-after Corporate Consultant. Its an inspiring and interesting book as revealed in the Sneak Preview that held me spell-bound till I read the last dot.
I'm proud to present you this close-up interview on Steve's new book.
Being a Management Consultant, how has that been for you so far?
It’s been an exciting journey, filled with great opportunities to identify potential problems and then turn them around for the better. I wouldn’t be in business if there weren’t any problems and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I particularly fell in love with the cover page of your new book, tell us about it.
• Well the concept for my book, “From College Dropout To Corporate Sellout” puts into perspective, the 2 parts of my personality; one’s the guy who dropped out of college twice and didn’t believe in himself because very few people did and the Corporate Sellout is the guy who’s got it all together, pretty much a corporate success.
I’d never have been this guy without the ‘dropout’ in me. He motivates me to prove to myself and the world that I’m not the person they mistook me for. There’s a ‘sellout’ in every dropout’. Go get the book and get the full details.
What can you recall as your highlights and major challenges in the course of writing the book.
• I actually didn’t start out with the intention of writing this book. I had another book that I was writing, and I got a case of ‘writer’s block’, so my editor (‘Seun Salami) advised me to write my biography. I was a little skeptical to begin with, because I thought I needed to be someone really noteworthy to write my biography and also I’d be thought to be a little arrogant to believe that people would wanna read my story, but I acquiesced and here it is. I started writing in February 2011 and it was finished in April 2011.
I guess the major highlights would be to know for a certainty that so many people would be blessed and inspired to overcome their own perceived limitations after reading this book.
My second highlight was when a friend of mine read the manuscript and was so blown away that she wrote me a cheque for a =N=100, 000 to ensure that I got it published. That was humbling.
And most importantly, was reading the foreword of one of my most special mentors, Mr. Tonye Cole (MD, Sahara Energy). It literally brought tears to my eyes.
My first encounter with you was at a conference in 2007 where you spoke a bit on your story alongside Fela Durotoye; how would you rate FD's impact on you?
• I must say that next to Jesus Christ and my parents, FD’s been the most important influence in my life. He took a chance on a college drop-out and boosted my confidence, taught me so much and today, here I am! He’s a truly great leader.
Okay, drifting a bit from the book, who would you regard as the most influential person in your life?
• Fela Durotoye, Paul Adefarasin and Tonye Cole.
Fela Durotoye
College Drop-out to Corporate Sell-out; tell us a bit about the Corporate Sell-out aspect.
It's just how I've turned my perceived disabilities into great opportunities. Would you believe i get paid to tell people how i dropped out of school and how today, I'm living the life of my dreams? That's weird!
What's your typical work-day like?
* Saying my Prayers, Speaking to clients, having meetings, listening to soothing music and coming up with products.
I mean...it must be hectic for a celebrity like you, how do you cool-off?
* I wouldn't consider myself a celebrity, I still walk on the street and nobody knows me, I can still buy Agege bread or pull over and buy corn for my wife... (laughs) and escape unnoticed.
Well, I love watching movies (really enjoyed Fast Five), listening to music and just being with my family, watching cartoons with my chic. I don't party; I like to keep it simple.
A lot of Nigerian youths are out there with crazy ideas but lack the necessary support, how possible is it to make an impact with so little at their disposal?
* Dream Big, Start small, Grow fast! And get a mentor!!!
Who's your business icon and why?
* Right now, it would be Tony Robbins.
He's proliferated his products and conferences around the world and has been an adviser to Presidents, Fortune 500 CEO's and still connects to the 'Regular Joe and soccer mom" out there. That's my dream.
Where and when can we purchase your books?
* Well, from September, they should be in any good bookstore, so keep your eyes open!
In a piece, what would you like to tell our youths out there?
It's not what you don't have that limits you; it's what you have but don't know how to use!
Identify your gifts and spend your life being the best at what you're naturally good at!.
Revealed!...Exclusive Interview with Toyin Kolawole (CEO, Truebranches.com)
Toyin Kolawole is the founder and CEO of True Branches, Nigeria’s fastest growing E-Commerce and M-Commerce Intermediary buying Service. She obtained her MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in 2006 where she was awarded the FC Austin scholarship; a prestigious lifetime status awarded annually to 10 select candidates with excellent academic achievement and exceptional leadership qualities. While at Kellogg, Toyin majored in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Management and strategy, Marketing, and Analytical Consulting
Under Toyin’s management, True Branches has grown tremendously as a leading service dedicated to fostering export/import between the United States and Nigeria. With True Branches innovative technology focus, Nigerian Exporters and industries now have unrestricted access to the global market. After her MBA, Toyin joined Bain and Company, one of three foremost global management and strategy consulting firms in the world. At Bain, Toyin consulted for several fortune 500 companies, offering and implementing highly innovative and practical solutions to complex management problems. Prior to her business education at Kellogg, Toyin worked as a private equity analyst with SME Manager Limited, an African Capital Alliance fund focused on business growth and development in Nigeria. She obtained her bachelor’s in Management and Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. She is also a Nigerian chartered accountant. She is married with two sons and loves to go hiking.
Insight into your products and services for non-techies
Truebranches.com is really about technology and customer service. We like to think of ourselves as a Naija version of Amazon. We enable site users shop online in the US and Africa. We provide real-time information and access to the best deals available. What we set out to do was provide a solution to tackle the unwillingness and/or inability of US sellers to process, accept payments for, and ship orders originating from Nigeria. True Branches makes it easy to buy stuff.
Despite the growth of mobile and Telecoms industry, the mobile platform still has a low market penetration in Nigeria, how have you coped with this?
A good proportion of our site users access websites from work or home but over the last 3 years, we have seen a steady increase in mobile internet use. It’s exciting to see more Nigerians increasingly use their mobile devices for other things besides talk.
So how have we coped? I think the question is how have we planned? To view current mobile internet penetration as a problem rather than opportunity is a mistake. The scenario is somewhat similar to cell phone penetration in Nigeria pre- and post-GSM. There are several enablers in this space – CBN, M-Commerce licensees, GSM operators, payment processors and content providers. Truebranches recognizes the potential opportunities within this space and is poised to be a leading content provider.
How come about the name, True Branches, as it may bring to mind a Horticultural Organization?
(Laughs)…While at Kellogg, it was disheartening to see case studies, news media and TV shows portray Nigerian 419 scammers as though that’s what we were all about. Some stores like JC Penny will not grant browsing access to West African internet users. The idea behind True Branches as a name is – if you view Nigeria as one huge strong and vibrant tree, sort of like the one in Psalm 1… (Laughs)…well, we view the people we serve as the true Branches, the true ambassadors of Nigeria.
How did it feel starting your own company and what motivated it?
It felt great, scary, exhilarating at the same time but one constant was the conviction in my heart that I was fulfilling destiny and therefore on the right path. Regarding my motivation – it’s The Lord Jesus. My husband, my kids have also been a primary source of motivation. Even as a senior executive, my husband would roll up his sleeves and help me pack boxes at the beginning when True Branches had just one staff – Me
Half a decade from now, where do you see True Branches?
Where God takes us, everyday he extends our vision, my role as CEO is just to run with it. Our primary focus is to impact lives, create opportunities, and showcase the true branches within Nigeria, within Africa, to the world via our technology platforms. We have just begun.
Moving away from these Tech things (laughs), tell us about your growing-up days.
I grew up in a mid-sized family, like most families, we definitely had our years of hardship which I think instilled some level of tenacity in all of us. My parents and siblings are devoted Christians and we’ve all lived a life of faith and trust that God always has a plan and its always perfect and timely.
Work-Life Balance, how do you manage these?
It’s always work-in-progress. Just like most mums out there, I always have to prioritize; my sons come first so whenever there’s a conflict in schedule or roles everything else becomes secondary. I believe people find time to do the things that they value.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
(Laughs) – Not telling.
Hmm…Okay. When I read your profile, I spent another half of the time staring at the beauty of God's creation, please tell our women out there how you manage to look great, even after 2 kids.
Thanks, you’re sweet! I do the usual stuff, try to eat healthy and work out several times a week.
One quote that has greatly influenced your persona
“I am not deterred by the fear of failure but motivated by the possibility of success”
Finally a word to our women and youths out there
There’s no such thing as an ordinary person, there’s just ordinary choices. God has thoughts and plans for everyone who follows him and sometimes your logic, your reasoning, your plans, your thoughts requires faith. A person who’s afraid to fail is by default afraid to succeed.
Thanks so much for your time on 'mikesfrequency' and I look forward to the audio interview. God bless!
Thanks
Also available is the AUDIO INTERVIEW...
No comments:
Post a Comment